Mechanical movement



Oct. 9, 19 34. A. 1.. VISSAT} I 0 "MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed March 6 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet L2 Oct. 9,1934 I A. L. vlssAT 1,9 ,703

' MECHANICAL JMOVEMENT Z s Filed March 6, 1933 3 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 9, 1934 1,976,703 MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Anthony L. Vissat, Bridgeville, Pa., assignor of one-half to Harry L. Gleeson, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application March 6, 1933, Serial No. 659,593

13 Claims. (01.74-50) My invention may be advantageously employed in numerous mechanical arts. For instance, it is-particularly useful in the railway art for shifting switch-rails, frog-members, signals and the like, or. for locking a rotary member against further movement, as in motor vehicle or railway brakes.

My invention consists in anew and improved mechanical movement whereby a member, such for instance as a slidably mounted plate may be moved a predetermined distance in either'direction and is automatically locked against further movement in the same direction at either end of its path, and is also automatically locked against 5 return movement except by the rotation of an actuating disk.

The slidable member is provided with an oblong opening having its longer axis disposed transversely to the path of movement of the member. A circular disk is mounted within the opening and is arranged to rotate on an eccentric axis.- The longer axis of the opening is at least equal to the diameter of the disk plus the distance between the axis of the disks rotation and the true center 'of the disk with working clearance, and the arcuate ends of the opening are described on the radius of the disk with working clearance. "The disk is eccentrically mounted to rotate on or around a fixed axis so located that at either end of a movement of the disk the latter seats in the same end of the opening, leaving a lune-shaped vacancy at the other end of the opening which provides clearance for the rotation of the disk to move the plate. At the completion of a movement the disk is seated in the end of the opening and the member and disk are thus locked against further It is obvious that the throw of; the disk and therefore the length of the path of movement of "18518 in, Fig 17, thepimon beingshown the slidable member is regulated by the eccentricity of the disk. Therefore I have invented an improved disk structure wherein the eccentricity may be varied to obtain the desired throw. If o desired the disk may be arranged to look at only one end of its throw. I

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the principles of my invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a simplified form of my improved mechanical movement, the slidable member being shown the right end of its path of movement. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the-slidable.

member .at the opposite or'left endof its-path- I of movement.

Fig. 3is a longitudinal line 3-3 in'Fig. 1. v v Fig. 4 is a transversesection taken alongth line 4-4 in Fig. 1. l Fig. 5 is a plan view showingmy inventionembodied in a switch operating mechanism, the Slideable member being shown attherightend; eras; path of movement. Q 1-1 Y I Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the memben at} the opposite or left end of its path of movement. Fig-7 is a like viewshowing the membernin an intermediate position. I Fig. 8 is an end v'iewlooking' from the left inFig. 5. I Fig. 9 is a cross sectionaLvi'ew taken along the, line 9-9 in Fig.5.. f

. Fig. 10 is a plan view showing my invention applied toan electrically or manually operated railway switch, the slidable member .beingshown at the right endof its path-of movement.

- Fig. 11 is a similar View showing .thememben at theleft end of its path of; movement.,.;;;

Fig. 12-,is a longitudinal; sectiontaken along the line 12-12-111 Fig. 11. v; 1 Fig. 13 is a plan view showing another embodiment of my invention, thebearing of: thecrank section taken along being omitted for the sakejof clearness. Fig. 14 isa cross section .:taken alongthe line 14 14 in Fig. 13-, the bear ng for t crank e'-; 0

ingshown.. Fig.15 is a planview'of another embodiment;

of the principlesof'my invention h 5 Fig. 16. is a sectional viewofthe sametaken along the line 16 '16-in Fig. 15.; :1 f

Fig. 17 is a plan view showingaslidable mem-; berarranged to-be moved by adisk whose'eccentricity may be varied to obtain diiferent throws; the pinion beingomitted;;- 1 11-. Fig. 18 is a: sectional view taken along, the line.

. Fig. 19 is a plan view similar-to Fig. 17'but showing another means for varying the-eccen--:; tricity of the disk; the'pinion being omitted.

Fig.;20 is a sectional view takenialong'ethet line 2020 in Fig; 19; the-pinion being shown.

' Referring first to Figs; 1 to 4,. inclusive, 1 representsa 'baseh'avingparallel side walls 2 whose inner faces ar'e'provided with the guide ribs =3: on which is slidably mounted a member. or platel 4 which'has rodsorbarsleaextending. from either thus locked againstireturn movement unless the end and connected to elements to be shifted or locked by the movement of the member 4.

The plate 4 is provided with a seat, preferably in. the form of an opening 5 of oblong contour 'with its longer axis disposed transversely to the ing 8 on said base. The upper end of the shaft is provided with a crank 9. In practice an upper;

bearing for the shaft is preferably provided, but the same is omitted in the drawings fo'r'the sake of clearness.

The longer axis of the opening 5. is at least equal to the diameter of the disk 6 plus the. distance between the axis of the disks rotation and the true center of the disk with working clearance and the shorter diameter of the opening is equal to the diameter of the disk with working clearance. The arcuate ends of said'opening aredescribed on a radius equal to the radius of the disk with working clearance.

rotates and the plate moves, the axis of said shaft moves along the cord of the semi-circle which forms one end of the opening, the lower end in Figs. 1 and 2.

'{Thus as the disk is rotated counterclockwise through an arc of 180 degrees, the disk will move from its position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, thus moving the plate fromright' to {left a'distance determined by the eccentricity of the disk, and in like manner when the disk is rotated clockwise from its position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1, the plate will'be moved a like distance from left to right.

As the disk completes either movement and its.

radius of eccentricity is disposed substantially parallel with the path of movement of the plate;

the disk nests in the end of the openingin the plate and thus locks the plate against further movement in that direction. Also the plate is disk is rotated in the proper direction by power applied to the crank. The lune vacancy shown at 9a provides clearance for the rotation of the disk from one of its extreme and nested positions to the other and vice versa.

If desired the-disk ma be r'ran e o l y a d t upper end of the shaft being provided with any,

onlyone of its te'rminal positions.

- Referring'now to Figs: 5 to 9, inclusive, where- .in-my' invention'is shown applied to aswitchk throwing mechanism, 10 represents the parallel cross-ties upon which is mounted the box 11,

spikes being driven through brackets12' on the box into 'the' ties.-' The plate 4 Slides on the bottom 13 of the box, being held in-place by means of angle bars14 secured to the side walls of the box.

bearing 8a in 'the bottom 13 of the box.

16 represents a bevelled pinion fixed the upper end of the shaft 7 and to the disk 6, and in mesh with a second bevelled pinion 17 fixed on the end'of a'horiaontal shaft 18 journaled in'a bearing 19;on the cross bar 20 of the box 11 and also in a bearing in theend wall of the box. The

outer end of the shaft has fixed theret'othe' switch lever 21. 22 representsia linkwhich' connects the 7 plate *4 with the switch rail or other element to" r -..When.the plate 4 is at therightend of its path i be moved- The shaft -'7 is so located relative to the opening that as thedisk relative rotary movement.

of movement, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the switch lever 21 is in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 8. When the plate 4 is at the opposite end of its path of movement, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the lever is in the position indicated in dotted lines at 21a in Fig. 8, and when the plate is in its central or intermediate position, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the lever is in the position shownin dotted lines at Zlb-in Fig. 8. v

Referring now to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, wherein the invention is shown applied to an electrically or manually operated street-railway switch, 23 represents a box which when in use is sunk in the roadbed and is provided with a suitable lid, not shown. The plate 4 slides in the box 23 being held in place by the guide bars 24. The pinion 25 is bolted to the disk 6 and both revolve on the post 26 which rises from the box, a nut 27 maintaining the disk and pinion in place to rotate on the post. Meshing with the pinion 25 is a rack bar 28 which is. held in position by overhanging guide bar 29 fixed onthe plate 4. The rack bar 28 extends rearwardly through an opening in the partition 30 of the box 23 and is provided at its outer end with a cross notch 31 having opposed 10.0

arcuate walls engaged by a lever 32 pivotally supported at 33 from the floor of the box andpro vided at its short end with holes 34 for a switch iron orother manual or mechanical operating means. 35 represents a linker other connection to mechanical operating means, such for instance as a solenoid or motor. 2

- Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14', 36 represents a plate whose seat 3? to receive thedisk 6 is perimetrally defined by a continuous ;ledge,38,of,11(l

proper contour to function as an oblong opening; for the disk 6. The ends of the plate are; provided with bars 39 which work in slide bearings: 40 in supports 41. 42 represents a bearing for the: crank shaft 43 upon which the disk 6 is fixed.

In Figs. 15 and 16, I show the slidable member formed by parallel and spaced apartplates 44 which are connected in spaced relation by means of the spacer blocks 45 whose adjacent facesv are provided with the opposed arcuate edge'portions .120, 46'which coact to form the oblong opening for: the disk 6 which is mounted between the plates 44. The plates 44 are provided with longitudinal slots 47.to provide clearance for the, shaft 43 on which the disk 6 is mounted. The lowerend of' the shaft being stepped in a bearing 49. The.

suitable means for rotating the disk, such as a crank or pinion. It is evident that the disk, where it is pinionlm rotated, may befixed on a rotary shaft or may rotate on a fixed post, as may be found desirabla Antifriction bearings may be interposed be'-' tween the perimetral edge of the disk and its seat, or otherwise provided toreduce'friction M Referring now to Figs. 1'? and 18, the disk is provided with a diametrically disposed slotted opening 50 having a cross bar 51 which is notched downwardly to receive the shank of-a'bolt 52 whose head is interposed between the crossbar and the adjacent end of the slot to preventiongltudinal movement of the bolt. The boltis' threaded into a hole in a block 53 slidable in the slot 50 and provided with an upwardly ex ts tending tubular neck 54upon which is mountedthe pinion 55 held in place and fixed relative to the disk and block as bymeans of a nut-56" screweddown on the threaded upper end of the neck. The post 57 extends up through the'tui t bular neck so that the disk and pinion assembly is thus rotatably mounted onthe post and the disk rotates in the opening of the plate 4'to move opening 58 in which is slidably mounted the block 59' which rotates with the disk and also with the pinion 60 mounted on the block above the'disk. The block is provided with a bore through which extends the'post 61 upon, which the disk and pinion assembly rotates, a washer and nut 62 being applied to the threaded upper end of the post. 63 represents shims or spacer plates which are used to position the block 59in the proper position along the slotted opening 58 to give the disk the desired eccentricity. By shifting the spacer plates 63 the axis of rotation of the disk may be varied as desired.

. It is obvious that Where the eccentricity of the disk is adjustable, the longer axis of the seat must be at. least equal to the diameter of the disk plus the maximum distance between the axis of movement of the disk and the true center of the disk.

It is obvious that any throw of length or .lon-

gitudinal movement maybe obtained by regu lating the size of the disk and the eccentricity or throw of the disk.

- The disk may be operated by any convenient means, either manually or by power application.

I claim:-- 1.111 a. mechanical movement, the combination of'a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided with a seat elongated transversely to the path of movement of the member, and a circular disk mounted for rotation on an eccentric axis in said seat, an end of the seat being provided with an arcuate portion described'on a radius substantiallyequal to the radius of the disk and the'disk being so disposed that at the end of a movement of the member the {tion of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided with a seat elongated transversely to the path of movement of the member, a circular disk mounted for rotation on an eccentric axis in said seat, an end of the seat ,ibeing provided with an arcuate portion described on a radius substantially equal to the radius of the disk and the disk being so disposed that at the end of a movement of the member the disk nests in said arcuate portion and locks the mem- ;;;ber against motion except by the reverse rotation of the disk, and means to vary the eccentricity of the disk whereby to regulate the length of the path of movement of the member.

3. In a mechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided with a seat elongated transversely to the path of movement of the member, and a circular disk mounted for rotation on an eccentric axis in said seat, an end of the f 'jseat being provided with a substantially semicircular portion described on a radius substantially the same as that of the disk and the disk being so disposed that at the end of rotation of the disk in either direction the disk nests in said semi-circular portion and locks the member against movement except by areverse rotation of thedisk.

4. In amechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided'with a seat elongated transversely to the path of movement of the mem-- her, a circular disk mounted for rotation on an' eccentric axis in said seat, an end of the seat being provided with a substantially semi-circular portion described on a radius substantially the sameas that of the disk and the disk being so disposed that at the end of rotation of the disk in either direction the disk nests in said semi-oircular'portion and locks the member againstmovement except by a reverse rotation of the disk-and means to vary the eccentricity of the disk whereby to regulate the length of the path of movement of the member.

5. In a mechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide 'on said support and providedwith a seat, and a cir-' cular disk mounted torotate on an eccentric axis in said seat and arranged toperimetrally engage the wall or" said seat, said seat beingofoblong contour with its longer axis disposed'transversely to the path of movement of the member and being substantially equal to the diameter of the" disk plus the distance between the axis of the disks rotation and the true center of'the disk and having arcuate ends described on a radius substantially equal to the radius of the disk. 1

6; In a mechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided with a seat, and a circular disk mounted to rotate on an eccentric axis in said seat and arranged to perimetrallyengage' the wall of said seat, said seat being of oblong contour with its longer axis disposed transversely to the path of movement of the member and being lid substantially equal to thediameter of the disk i'5 plus the distance between the axis of the diskfs rotation and the true center of the disk and having arcuate ends described on a radius substantially equal to the radiusof the disk, the axis of rotation of the disk being positioned so that when the radius of the disks eccentricity'is substan-: tially parallel with the path of the member the disk nests in one end of the seat. 7. In a mechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided with a seat, and a circular disk mounted to rotate. on an eccentric axis in said seat and arranged to perimetrally engage the wall of said seat, said seat being of oblong contour with its longer axis disposed '36 transversely to the path of movement of the member and being substantially equal to the diameter of the disk plus the distance between the axis of the disks rotation and the true center of the disk and having arcuate ends described on a radius substantially equal to the radius of the disk, the axis of rotation of the disk being so positioned that as the disk completes a movement of substantially one hundred and eighty degrees the disk nests in the end of the seat, locking the member against further movement in the same direction and locking the member against return movement except by rotation of the disk in the proper direction. 7

8. In a mechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided with a seat, a circular disk mounted to rotate in'said seat on an eccentric axis and arranged to perimetrally engage the wall of the seat, said seat being of oblong contour withits longer axis disposed transversely to the path of movement of the member and, being substantially equal to the diameter of the disk plus the maximum distance between the eccentricity of the disk to regulate the length of the path of movement of the member.

9.- In a mechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided with a seat, a circular disk mounted .to rotate on an eccentric axis in said seat and arranged to perimetrally engage the wall of the seat, said seat being of oblong contourwith. its'longer axis disposed transversely to the path of movement of the member and being substantially equal to the diameter of the disk plus the maximum distance between the center disks rotation and the true center of the disk, and having arcuate ends which are described on a radius substantially equal to the radius of the disk, the axis of rotation of the disk being so positioned that as the disk completes a movement of substantially one hundred and eighty degrees the disk nests in the end of the seat, locking the -member against further movement in the same. direction and locking the .-m ember against return movement except by ro- "tation of the disk in the proper'direction, and

40. "ment with the Wall of the seat and to nest in an means for varying the eccentricity of the disk to regulate the length of the path of movement or v the member. I

' 1 0. In a mechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided with an oblong seat disposed transversely to the path of movement of the member, a circular disk arrangedto rotateon an eccentric axis in said seat in engageend of the seat at the completion of a. movement of the member, said disk being provided with a radially disposed elongated opening, a post rising from the support, a bearing member rotat- "able on said post and engaging said opening,

and means .for adjusting the bearing member along said opening to vary the eccentricity of the disk.

-11. In a mechanical movement, the combination of'a support, a member mounted to slide onsaid support. and provided with anoblong seat disposed transversely to the path of movement of the member, a circular disk arranged to rotate on an eccentric axis in said seat-in engagement with the wall of the seat and to nest in an end of the seat at the completion-of a movement of the member, said disk being provided-with a radially disposed elongated opening, a post rising from the support, a bearing-member rotatable on said post and engaging said opening,: and means comprising a rotatable screw bolt mounted on said'disk and engaging a threadedyholein the bearing member to vary, the eccentricity of said disk. r r

12in a mechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided" with anoblong seat disposed transversely to the path of movement of the member, a circular, disk arranged to rotate on an eccentric axis in said seat in engagement with the wall of the seat and to nest in an end of the seat at the completion of a movement of the member, said disk being provided with a radially disposed elongated opening, a post rising from the support,a bearing member rotatable onsaid post and engaging said opening, and means com'-' prising spacer plates arranged tobe placedin said opening to shift the position of the bearing member therein and vary the eccentricity .of the disk. I

13. In a mechanical movement, the combination of a support, a member mounted to slide on said support and provided with a transversely disposed seat having an end provided with converging arcuate walls, a circular'disk'rotatably mounted on said support and engaging said seat whereby to reciprocate said member, said disk being mounted on an eccentric axis and said axis being so placed relative to said seat that at the end of a rotary movement of substantially 180 degrees the disk nests in the arcuate end of the ANTHONY L. VISSAT.

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